Rugby league reporter

Disbelief: A dejected Johnathan Thurston after the NRL Elimination Final between the Sharks and the Cowboys. Photo: Getty Images

Furious North Queensland skipper Johnathan Thurston has questioned the legitimacy of the NRL competition, claiming it favours Sydney clubs.

The Cowboys were livid with match officials after Cronulla scored the first try of their final on Saturday on the seventh tackle of the set, hinting at a Sydney conspiracy aimed at ensuring a South Sydney-Sydney Roosters grand final in the post-match press conference.

But a clearly frustrated Thurston added fuel to the fire when the Cowboys arrived back in Townsville on Sunday, declaring Queensland's State of Origin dominance was behind a push from the game's administrators for an all-Sydney grand final.

''State of Origin is killing the game, no doubt,'' he said.

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''The media want it and the fans in NSW want a South Sydney and [Roosters] grand final. That's what the game needs and is crying out

for it. If you're playing for a team outside of Sydney, you're right up against it. No doubt about it. The boys feel it, we all feel it, it's tough.

''After games, all they want is an all-Sydney grand final. You can see it. I'm not the only one that can see it. It's there for everyone to see. Queensland dominate at State of Origin level and NSW is crying out for something and they seem to be getting it.''

However, Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan denied the error cost the Cowboys their season.

On-field referees Matt Cecchin and Henry Perenara, touch judges Jeff Younis and Michael Wise, as well as video referee Jason Robinson, are all expected to be dumped for week two of the finals but assistant video referee Matt Rodwell has escaped scrutiny, given he wasn't entrusted with counting responsibilities.

Flanagan insists the referees' mistake in the eighth minute of the game did not dictate the outcome of the match and has told the Cowboys to quit their whining, adamant his side were on the end of incorrect decisions from the match officials.''We got one extra tackle but they got one extra whole set of six,'' Flanagan said.

''They kicked the ball into us and the referees said we played at it but we didn't, and they got an extra whole set of six. It was in the first half and they kicked the ball into the back of Jeff Robson. They get six again and are attacking our try line, but do we blow up if they scored a try from that set? Those things happen all the way through a game. We had to be good enough to score a try off it too.

''Yeah, we shouldn't have had seven tackles but it's human error. There are human errors right through the game. I heard it was a Sydney conspiracy because they want Souths-Roosters grand final but I don't know what that has to do with our game.''

Referees boss Daniel Anderson said the on-field referees shouldn't shoulder all the blame for miscounting the set.

He said all officials were responsible for the count and would be subject to an investigation.

''We have got fail-safes in operation but we have to have a bit of an evaluation of it because, in the end, the fail-safes failed, and we know we're accountable publicly, as well as privately, in terms of how we perform,'' Anderson said.

''The fail-safe is other people counting. We've got two touch judges, a pocket ref and a video ref. Five people should be on the count. There are some procedural things there and communications that the pressure of the game has an effect on.

''I've listened to the audio from the game and it was just a mistake.''

148 comments

WELL Johnny, feel no sorry for missing out on 7th tackles try, because what comes around goes around. In the STATE of ORIGIN. two years in raw you have cheated to win the losing games. It is a pay back for all those games. Striping the ball in two men's tackle, scoring try and get away with it. Pretending to be pushed when you jumped like soccer players do to get penalties and got away with it and won the origin, and now you are calling for legitimacy. Common, be brave like a man and take it on the chin. Refs make mistakes all the time. That is the same pain we felt as the NSW fans. What we wanted was fair game without Queensland coach and players crying out foul. You are the one who plays dirty and now cries out loud when it don't go your own ways. You will do it any thing to win game, this the consequence sometime you have to absorb as as well.

Commenter

MaxTT

Date and time

September 15, 2013, 11:23PM

You are absolutely100% on the money.Sick of the double standard whiners like Thurston

Commenter

Gary

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 7:36AM

Ummm that's exactly what he's saying... it's payback for Origin.

Commenter

Jimbob

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 7:49AM

I don't believe this is a QLD vs NSW conspiracy BUT when there are blatant referee mistakes that cost any team a valid chance in what was a close match there should be a re-match or golden try (not point) to decide the winner. To strip the Sharks of 6 points and declare the Cowboys the winner would only punish the Sharks and reward the Cowboys for a Ref blunder. After all is said and done the Sharks played to the whistle and were rewarded.

Commenter

jamalu

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 8:44AM

MaxTT - there were an overwhelming number of cliches in your comment but I still enjoyed it. I wonder if JT attributes scraping the finals to a state-based conspiracy. It's not as if he can contest that the Roosters and Rabbits were the most consistent teams this year. Anyway - two rotten calls in two finals series; I would be furious too.

Commenter

ICompletelyDisagree

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 9:01AM

So what's the penalty for "bringing the game into disrepute" or defamation, JT. Grow up and be a "role model". The constant whinging and blame of others is really very tedious in society at the moment.

Commenter

Slogans for Bogans

Location

Northside

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 9:28AM

Even if there is a Souths v Roosters conspiracy, what does that have to do with a Cronulla v Cowboys match?

Thinking through a coherent conspiracy theory was always going to be a big ask for a leaguie.

Commenter

JD

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 9:41AM

Thurston is probably right. The Cowboys and Storm, two non Sydney teams playing in the finals, both got poor refereeing decisions. The refs favour the Sydney sides, although unconsciously. Flanagan's comparison with a decision adverse to the Sharks is invalid as no try was scored from it. Conversely, the Sharks scored their winning try when incorrectly given a scrum feed. Cowboys dudded. Manly will smash Sharks anyway.

Commenter

rudy

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 10:13AM

i note you don't actually address the issue of concern here. So I assume you agree with the Sharks getting 7 tackles and scoring a try.

Commenter

joke

Date and time

September 16, 2013, 10:16AM

Thurston is a top player but it seems his emotions got the better of him. I think the Sharks out of the running would be a relief for NRL. A fair judge will tell you that the toads were exceptionally lucky to have the so called SOO dominance, thanks in many ways to the officials. Get over it JT.

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